Fbtjit-pittistg machine



'Apr. 17, 1923. I

. Re. 15,579 G. R. PARANTEAU FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Original Filed sept. 21, 1920 I 2 sheebssheet 1 INVENTOR,

6 7 ifvzufiau ATTORNEYS.

Apr. 17, 1923. I G. R. PARANTEAU .FRUIT FITTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 21, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 IINVENTOR, V

AITORNEYS.

Reissued Apr. 17, 1923.

UNITED STATES GEORGE R. PARANTEAU, OE OXNARD, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-FITTING MACHINE.

Original No. 1,392,518, dated October 4, 1921, Serial No. 411,841, filed September 21,1920. Application for reissue filed December 15, 1922. Serial No. 607,248.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, Gnoncn R. PARANTEAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oxnard, in the county of Ventura and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Fitting Machines, of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to fruit pitting machines and has for its object the provision of novel means for holding fruit to be pitted and carrying it into engagement with a fruit splitting knife ,which is also operative to arrest the pit to dislodge it from the fruit while the fruit- .is twisted or partially twisted with relation to the pit to cause a severance of the fiber from the pit. 7

It is an object of this invention to provide novel fruit engaging elements coacting to hold fruit associated with means for moving the fruit holding elements into such relation to a knife that the knife will engage the fruit at a point midway between the holders and thus insuring that the knife shall engage the fruit at its center and sop'osition the fruit with relation to the knife as to cause the knife to engage the pit and operate most effectively. j

It is a further object of this invention to produce novel means for successively retracting the fruit engaging elements and for then releasing them in order that they may be caused to embrace the fruit and. carry it into operative relation with the knife It is a further object of this invention to provide a fruit carrier capable of delivering fruit one at a time (to the holders which coaet with the knife for splitting the fruit and removing the two halves thereof from the it. p With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describingthe invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the severalviews, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation. of a machine embodying the invention. with a few of the elements in advance-in section;

Figure 2 illustrates an endelevation;

- flange Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view on the line aa of Fig. 1; and

Figure 1 illustratesa sectional view on the line bb of Figure 1.;

In these drawings I have illustrated what might be termed right and left hand members identified by theletter A, and except as to slightfdetails of construction as will presently appear, the right hand and left hand members are practically duplicated and corresponding parts of the right hand element cooperate with the like parts of the left hand element in carrying fruit and presenting it to a kn'fe in conjunction with which both. elements coact.

The machine will be described as having a plurality of fruit carrying members, but it is to be understood that one or such additional members or pairs of fruit carrying elements may be employed, and thevinventor does not wish to berestricted with respect to the number comprised in a machine.

The invention asembodied in the illustrationj includes a series of elastic cups 1, each of whichhas a flange 2 and each said cup is. carried by a plunger 3 slidab-ly mounted within a tube-4 which tube contains a spring 5 which bearsagainst the inner end of the tube and against the plunger. A pm 6 extendsthrough the rear end of the tube and operates as a guidetherefor, as

willpresently appear. The tube 4 has a 7 and the said tube 4 is s-lidable in a hollow spindle 8 having a spring 9 therein bearing against the inner end of the tube 4. Each spindle also hasv a plug 9 in its end against which the spring 9 bears to hold it under. compression. Each hollow spindle 8 has a pinion 10 on the end remote from the cup and each spindle is rotatably mounted in a bearing 11 cast in the wheel 16., A pin 12 extends through the plunger. and may slide in the slots .13 of the tube 4 for a purpose tobe presently explained. spindle 8 has slots 15' therein in which the pin is guided and therefore, each plunger may be free to move inwardly against the action of a spring 5 and each tube may have movement in the hollowspindleagainst the actionof a spring 9,

The wheel 16 which has the bearings is mounted on a shaft 18, and a wheel 17 having a toothed periphery also carries bearings Each,

in which hollow spindles are applied for the i right hand member of the machine.

Theshaft 18 has a pulley 19 for receiving power for driving the shaft, or other suitable power transmitting means may be sup;-

plied as a substitute. The shaft is-intended to be rotated in the direction of the arrow 7' for carrying the fruit holding elements successively to positions indicated by the letters (Ll); E and F, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. fruit holdersin position in advance, of those shown in Figure 2 by about degrees of rotation, and in Fig. 1, as shown, the posi- Z' tions C and F are the positions in which the cups are open to release fruit previously held in the positions D and E. -In other words, the positions D and E are those prior to the time the fruit encounters the knife, whereas the other positions are those in which the fruit has been'subjected to the action of the knife'and thereafter releasedfrom the hold ers 'Guiding bars G are shown as stationed on=theframe-H and they are curved so'that their inner edges are" substantially concentricwiththe'wheels 16 and17 but they are 7 offset laterally to form cams-2O which are v efi'ectiveyto move the plungers, outwardly or away from the center 'ofthe machine after the fruit has passed the knife 25, which is anchored to the base H as' fully shown in'FigL 3,1an action which results in releasing the fruit held by the cups. The plungers after being fully separated travel in parallel paths until the opposite ends 21' of the guiding bars are reached and then the 'plungers are released and the springs of the plungers become effective to force the plung ers into engagement with the fruit carried by th'e conveyerfcups, as" will presently appear. i:

-Tlier conveyer includes a sprocket wheel 3'5 whichis rotated in the direction of the arrow 9, a sprocket chain 36 traveling theredver 'whichtravels in the direction of the arrow d, the said'sprocket chain being provided with a plurality of pockets 37 on which fruit is lodged and carried into 7 position where they may be engaged by the cups." The 'conveyer wheel 35 is mounted on a shaft 35 driven by a, train of gearing 32," and '34 from the wheel 1:7, and of course the gearingis so pro ortioned asto time the conveyor and transfer the fruit carrying pockets 37 under a pair of cups at the time the cups are released frointhe guiding bar, the said position being indicatedby the letter Din 1. i

It is desirable" hat the central part of the fruit being carried by the cups be presented to tlie-ldii fefand to that end, a centering mechanism B is employed which moves the.

cups carrying the 'fruit simultaneously in the same or corresponding directions to the right "hand 'orle ft hand side and this cen- 3 illustratesthe elements or tering mechanism includes channel members 26 having their outer ends flared and their inner ends converging. The channel -mem-- bers26 are carried respectively as yat 27 by racks 27 having oppositely disposed teeth which are engaged by apinion 28 and the said pinion is mounted on a Ushaped plate 29 held in place by the standards 30. These racks 27 thus carry, each, one of the channel members 26, as shown in Figurel, veach channel member being movable ointly with the rack upon-which it is mounted and movable relative to the other rack and channel member. The devices on the left hand and right hand members are set to work opposite each other and the cups are intended to hold the fruit-midway between them as near as possible, taking into account the irregular shape of the fruit. The cups are rotated or spun in the direction of the arrowe, Figs. 2 and 3, while being carried by the wheels 16 and 17 7 in the direction of the arrow f. y

The spinning action of the cups presents the fruit to the knife while it is rotating, thusmaking it possible for the knife to split thefruit and as the frui't'is carried beyond the knife, the pit is arrested and separated from the fruit.

The channel members 26, of course, move the spindles as stated and the'flanges 2 of the plungers are relied on for engaging the sides of the channel members so that as the cups travel toward the knife, the position of thecups maybe shifted to present the substantial center of the fruit to the knife. The racks 27 have guides 31 which are in thesides of the U-shaped plate 29. The

channel members 26 are held by'reason of their connection with the racks 27 in engagement withthe pinion 28 at all times approximately centrally located with respect to the knife 25, while being at the same time free to move in either direction toward or away from each other in equal degrees each, and hence fruit of different sizes may be accommodated. No alternative movement is allowedthe racks and they must move in synchronism. In; other words, an inward movement of one and an outward movement of the other at the same time willnot be permitted, but they must move together inwardly or outwardly. An outward move ment is understood as being a movement away from the center between the channels and by inward movement is meant a movement toward the center. position of the channel members 26 is seen to be always maintained through the'action of the racks and'pinion, and therefore, the flanges 2 of" the" fruit holders in 1 passing through the channelsm ust be centralized "by such passing and the cups 1 with" the'fruit held likewise centralized with respect to the knife as required. 1

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The centralized sively engaged by cups 1, the flanges 2 of such cups will of course be caused to assume positions of correspondingly varying relative separation. If the center of'thefruittis not in the plane of the knife '25 which" is to sever the fruit and discharge the pit, one of the flanges 2 will be further to one side of such plane than the other of such flanges.

and one such flange will act upon the'correspondmg channel member 26 to move it either inwardly or outwardly, the other" channel member being caused to move'an equal distance 1n the opposite (lllBCtlOD through the co-action of the racks 2" and.

pinion 28. hen the channel members have been thus moved, either away from or toward each other sufficiently to cause the flanges 2 of both cups to be engaged with their respective channel members, the cups will be guided and directed by such channel members jointly, either in one direction or the. other, until the fruit between the cups is brought at its center into the plane of the knife 25; the racks and their separately supported channel members cannot move in the same direction. Both, as stated, must perform movements toward the plane of the knife or away from it. Being thus locked against 1 movement in the same direction transversely of the machine, the cups must be guided down to position to present the center of thefruit Within the plane of the knife '25, resultant upon the particular relative separation of the cups which corresponds to the particular diameter of the particular piece of fruit between the cups. WVhen the next pair of cups is advanced toward the centering mechanism, if the fruit be of dilferent dimensions, the centering mechanism will execute a performance similar in kind to that just described, all as controlled by the particular dimensions of the piece of fruit concerned.

It is believed unnecessary to supply resume of the operation of the device since a description of the operation of the elements and their coaction with other elements has been stated in connection wit-h a. description of the elements.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1 In a fruit pitting machine, rotatably mounted wheels in spaced relation to each other, fruit carrying members carried by the wheels, the fruit carryingelement of one wheel being oppositely disposed with rela- This must follow, inasmuch as ing'the cup, means for urging the plunger outwardly, means for rotating the plunger,

means for'pressing the plunger inwardly against the action of the means for urging the plunger outwardly, a knife 111 position to engage fruit between the cups as the cups are carried, and meansfor guiding'the coacting cups in. a right hand or left hand direction.

' 2. In a fruit pitting machine, a shaft,

element carried by the other wheel opposite the firstinentioned fruit engaging element, the said fruit engaging elements being adapted to coact for carrying fruit, each of the said fruit engaging elements'comprising a. cup, a plunger carrying the cup, means for yieldably holding the plunger in operative relation to the wheel which carries it, a

guide for each plunger having camming surface for moving the plunger inwardly against the action of the spring, a conveyer having fruit carrying elements operative to deliver fruit between the two co'acting cups, a knife in the path of'travel of fruit carried by the fruit engaging cups in their rotation, means for imparting rotary motion to the fruit engaging cups when carried by the wheels, and means for/centering the fruit held by the cups with relation tothe knife.

3. In a fruit pitting machine, rotatably mounted wheels in spaced relation to each other, fruit engaglng members carr ed by the wheels,jthe fruit engaging members of one wheel. beingoppositely disposedrto that carriedby the other. wheel and adapted to coact with each other for holding and carrying fruit, each of said fruit engaging elements including a cup for embracing the fruit, meansfor yieldingly supporting the cup with relation to the wheel, means for rotating the cup as the wheel travels, a knife in the path of travel of fruit carried by the cups, and means for moving the cups for centering the fruit with relation to the knife.

r 4. In a fruit pitting machine, rotatably mounted wheels, V carried by the wheels, the fruit grasping memberof one wheel being movable toward and awayfrom the fruit grasping member of the other wheel, means for yieldingly maintaining the grasping members in operative relation to each other, means for rotat-' ing the wheels, and means forsimultaneously shifting the fruit grasping members in corresponding directions.

5. In a fruit pitting machine, rotatably mounted wheels, yieldable and: coacting fruit grasping members carried thereby, means for guiding the,said fruit grasping members laterally of the machine in the same direction simultaneously, means for coupling the guiding means whereby they fruit grasping members I work in unison, and means for. rotating the wheels. A, I

6. In a fruit pitting machine, fruit grasp.-

I ing'elements, means for carrying the fruit grasping elements, a conveyer operative to convey fruit in the path of travel of the fruit grasping .elements, whereby the said fruit grasping elements will inove fruit from the conveyer, means for mounting the fruit grasping elements yieldably,,whereby they move toward and away from each other, means for centering the fruit" carried by the fruit grasping elements, and a knife in the path of travel of fruit held by't-he fruit grasping elements.

7. In a fruit pitting machine fruitgrasping elements, means for yieldingly mounting the fruit grasping. elements 1n opposed 'relation to each other for coaction one with the other, means for simultaneously carrying the fruit grasping elements, and means for moving the fruit grasping elements inthe same direction simultaneously transversely;

.8. In a fruit pitting n achine,fruit grasp mgelements, means for yieldlngly mounting the fruit grasping elements in opposed relation to each other for coaction one with the other, means for simultaneously carryingthe fruit grasping elements, means for moving the fruit grasping elements in the same direction simultaneously transversely and a knifein the path of travel of fruit carriedby the said, frult grasping elements.

9. In aafruit pitting machine, fruit grasping elements, means for yieldinglymou-n'ting the fruit grasping elements, means for carrying, the fruit grasping elements in opposed relation to each other for coaction one with the other, guides for moving the fruit grasping elements simultaneously in onedi rection or theother transversely of the machine, means on each fruit grasping element for engaging a guide, and means for communicating the motion of one guide to the other guide. l

10. In fruit. pitting machine, fruit grasping elements, means for yieldingly mounting the fruitgrasping elements, means forcarrying the fruit grasping elements in opposed relation to each other for coaction one with the other, guides, for moving the trult grasplng elements simultaneously 111 "one direction or the othertransversely of the machine, meanson eachfruit grasplng element for engaging a guide, means for communicating the motion o'f one guice to therother, means for urging the fruit grasping elements normally toward each other, "and meansior pressing the fruit grasping elements apart.

. 11. In a .fruit pitting machine, yieldable coacting fruit graspingmembers, means for moving the said members intooperative re lation with a knife, and means for simultaneously shifting the fruit grasping menibers in'corresponding directions.

12,.In a fruit pitting machine,., fruit grasping members arranged in pairs, means for carryin the fruit grasping members of a pair in unison, means for simultaneously rotating the fruit grasping members of each pair, and means for simultaneously shifting the fruit grasping members in correspond directions axially.

In Witnesswhereof, I have signed. my name-to this specification in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

. GEORGE R. PARANIEAU.

\Vitnesses l nii I-IERINE Hoar, YT. MARK I)ENBY.' 

